WIMBLEDON

June 20, 2005

Roger Federer

THE MODERATOR: Roger Federer for you.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, yeah, it's definitely a good start to the tournament. I think there's always something special, you know, when you come back and defend -- try to defend the Wimbledon championship. So I'm definitely very happy to have done that. Very important first step.

ROGER FEDERER: I definitely got more pressure off my back now. Luckily I've played my next opponent, as well. I played him in Dubai this year. Looking forward, you know, to play him again. But definitely feel sort of relieved, you know, after this start. Looking forward to the rest. Now it's sort of getting interesting. You're into the tournament, you've seen the fans, you don't have to leave right away, so that's nice (smiling).

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, I thought it was a great applause I got, you know, from the fans and from the crowd. That was definitely a nice welcome. Also nice walking off, which I said yesterday was going to be nicer, you know, especially in case I win.

ROGER FEDERER: Uhm, yeah, I think it's very similar to the outside courts. I didn't have to adjust that much. Obviously, in a match situation -- matches are always different than practice. Right away you feel different. But I really thought the grass was beautiful. When I started to warm up, everything was just perfect. Once the match went on, you saw little holes coming. But I thought it was a beautiful court because -- honestly I don't quite remember my match too much against Bogdanovic last year. I just remember being really focused and trying to get the match over and done with. Didn't really maybe enjoy the moment so much, where I thought this year I could do it much more.

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, well, I didn't want to storm too much to the net too quickly. I also wanted to definitely get my rhythm first. Yeah, I think I came in on a return, wasn't it?

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, we didn't play much serve and volley - especially him. I had the feeling on first serves he wasn't making many returns, you know. When I was serve and volleying, I wasn't even getting the volley. But you're right, I think we definitely could have played more serve and volley, but I won the way playing from the back. Who knows, maybe next match. It's a different opponent and I'll play totally different.

ROGER FEDERER: I warmed up this morning at 11 on the outside courts. Everybody just came into the gates, into the grounds. Everyone you meet was, "Good luck, good luck, good luck." It was a lot of fun. I was really surprised how many gave me -- you know, they cheered for me. But I guess, you know, in England they are very friendly and very nice to you. Really definitely enjoyed that.

ROGER FEDERER: Of course.

ROGER FEDERER: I always hope for a good start, you know. So I always hope that I can make those serves. I don't get as nervous any more like when I played Sampras, for instance, where I remember I came on court and, like you said with Ashe, at least you hope you're going to win a few points. You enter the match -- now I enter the matches knowing hopefully my opponents are going to feel this way where I can take advantage of that. I had a feeling at the beginning he was quite nervous. He missed a few shots. He had trouble reading my serve in the first game where I served four aces. That shows also maybe how nervous he was. But I definitely get tense, too, especially here at Wimbledon.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, I mean, because of the rain this morning, it definitely maybe played a little quicker than the last few days where it was extremely hot and there was quite a high bounce, where I even thought you could even kick serve, which I was quite surprised to see the last few days. But I had the feeling this was playing like the years before.

ROGER FEDERER: Well, you know, I think you always serve different on different surfaces, especially clay and grass are so different. You use the slice serve much more than you use the kick, where on clay you're not going to try to kick the ball up high or it's going to be carried out of the court. On grass you have to use different techniques. Maybe the technique with the slice favors my serve more than the kicking serve. But definitely the serve let me down in the Nadal match. I'm happy it's back for now.

ROGER FEDERER: No, I didn't think of the match at all today during the match. I'm happy about that. I guess because I know how different, you know, clay and grass is, it's not even worth it, you know, thinking about that. But maybe when I come back on clay next year or for Davis Cup against the Brits, then I'll maybe think about it quickly. But not for now.

ROGER FEDERER: I think in the beginning it's the pressure which you feel more. And then once you get underway, I think it's the confidence which totally dominates. So I think that's how it goes.

ROGER FEDERER: No time (smiling).

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah, maybe I would, if I would have time. But, I mean, Tony saw the match. We sort of analyzed it. It's definitely a point to take things out of that match, too, because I haven't played many, many matches where I thought I played all right the last few matches, and normally if I play all right I've won them. But that day, an okay performance wasn't good enough to beat Nadal. Maybe I would have to look into it, even though right away I knew what went wrong, what went right in that match. So don't feel the need to actually watch it, that match.